Ahn Cheol-soo, the co-chairman of South Korea's minor opposition People's Party, said Wednesday the National Assembly should establish a special committee on creating jobs to meet the changing industrial scope and deal with the soaring unemployment among youths.
"The fourth-industrial revolution is a huge challenge and opportunity for us," Ahn, an entrepreneur-turned-politician, said during his speech at the National Assembly. "The National Assembly should take the lead in kicking off the special job committee."
Ahn said the new committee will pave the way for lawmakers to discuss ways to develop science capabilities and change education programs to better meet future demands. The discussions will also include changing South Korea's industrial and labor structures, he added.
The party head added South Korea should also provide mid-aged citizens with the education to help them adapt to the changes.
The party leader then vowed to root out irregularities among local family-controlled conglomerates. The heads of the ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea made similar remarks in their previous speeches held at the National Assembly earlier this week.
"The public sector, conglomerates and the older generation should let go of some of their privileges to the private sector, subcontractors and the youth, respectively," Ahn said. He argued there is no hope for the country without justice in the law and taxation.
Ahn added the parliament should also open discussions on the direction of the country's welfare system, adding South Korea should contemplate expanding the scope of welfare while asking the citizens to take on more burden as well.
On the long-drawn-out debate of building a new airport in the southeastern part of the country, Ahn said President Park Geun-hye should take responsibility for causing disputes among different regions in South Korea. (Yonhap)
